Pyrophytes to Prototypes

A path to fire-resilient architecture

An AI generated translation of Dr. Melissa Sterry’s Pyrophytic Architecture for the general reader.

The Evolutionary Bond Between Pyrophytes and Wildfires

The intricate and symbiotic relationship between pyrophytes—plants evolved to thrive in fire-prone environments—and wildfires is a fascinating ecological interplay. Pyrophytes actively shape wildfire behaviour by influencing its frequency, intensity, and spread. In turn, wildfires drive the evolution of pyrophytes, determining their traits, distribution, and population dynamics. This cyclical interaction underscores the importance of tailoring solutions for fire-prone landscapes to their specific fire regimes and the unique pyrophyte species that inhabit them, a seminal concept at the heart of Dr. Sterry’s design for wildfire philosophy.

Designing for Resilience in Fire-Prone Landscapes

Sterry posits that a universal, one-size-fits-all solution is inadequate when addressing the complex dynamics of wildland-urban interfaces. Instead, the concept of ‘archidiversity’ - to architecture what biodiversity is to life -, introduced in Panarchistic Architecture: Building Wildland-Urban Interface Resilience to Wildfire through Design Thinking, Practice and Building Codes Modelled on Ecological Systems Theory (2018), offers a multidimensional approach. Inspired by ecological principles, this innovative framework envisions architecture as an evolving system, much like a family tree of ideas, with each branch representing unique solutions to wildfire-related challenges.

In this framework, architecture operates within an ecological hierarchy. At the broadest level is the "domain" of architecture, followed by the "kingdom" of Panarchistic Architecture. Nested within are the "phylum" of Extremophytic Architecture™ and the "class" of Pyrophytic Architecture™. The "order," "family," "genus," and "species" levels represent increasingly specialised concepts and designs. This model mimics the adaptive strategies of nature, emphasising the creation of settlements that coexist with natural hazards, drawing inspiration from extremophytes—plants and organisms adapted to thrive in extreme conditions.

The paradigm emerged from Sterry’s earlier works, including Bionic City® (Est. 2010) project, which poses the compelling question - how would nature design a city that’s resilient to natural disasters? The resulting designs incorporate the traits of local pyrophytes, such as fire-resistant bark, resprouting mechanisms, and fire-triggered seed germination. These adaptations serve as a blueprint for architectural resilience, ensuring harmony with fire regimes and fostering long-term sustainability.

The Need for Evolutionary Design

The pursuit of fire-resilient architecture mirrors nature’s evolutionary process, requiring a careful balance of choices and trade-offs. Indigenous and vernacular architectural styles offer valuable lessons in environmental harmony. For instance, the burnable wickiups of the Southwestern United States were ingeniously designed to coexist with fire, reflecting a deep understanding of local ecological cycles.

However, much of this wisdom has been lost to the march of modernity, leaving us disconnected from the environmental literacy that once guided sustainable living. The goal of Panarchistic Architecture isn’t to replicate ancient methods wholesale but to reinterpret and build on their principles to create architectural and urban design solutions fit for both contemporary and future needs. By integrating modern utilities and conveniences, this approach seeks to create solutions that are both practical and forward-thinking.

As part of her Panarchistic Architecture research programme Dr. Sterry developed a comprehensive toolkit to teach architects, urban planners, policymakers, and technologists the philosophy, principles and potential applications of her nature-inspired urban resilience paradigm. Utilised in workshops and other training activities in academia and industry, this kit includes building codes, novel architectural concepts, and narrative tools like scenarios and flash fictions designed to enable built environment professionals to understand that the evolving nature of wildfire risks demands continuous adaptation and innovation.

A Vision for the Fire Age

In 2009, Sir John Beddington warned of a "perfect storm" of interconnected environmental and social challenges. Wildfires, increasingly exacerbated by factors including, but not limited to climate change, are a central component of this storm. By emulating the adaptive traits of pyrophytes — such as pyriscence (fire-triggered seed release), abscission (leaf shedding), and fire-resistant structures — Dr. Sterry’s work offers an unprecedented path forward and a radical new school of wildfire resilience thought.

This approach envisions a future where buildings and communities don’t merely survive wildfires but coexist with them, embracing the lessons of nature to thrive in an increasingly fire-prone world. The result is not just resilience, but a transformative way of living that harmonises with the dynamic forces of the natural environment.

Towards a Fire-Resilient Future

The journey towards fire-resilient architecture is far from over. It requires a commitment to transdisciplinary collaboration, ongoing research and development, and the courage to innovate across multiple domains - from design and engineering to finance and insurance to planning and policy. By understanding and integrating the evolutionary lessons of pyrophytes, we can move closer to a future that turns the challenge of wildfires into an opportunity for the reconciliation of the built environment with the natural one.

In embracing these principles, we are not just designing for today but creating a legacy of resilience for generations to come. This is the premise of Panarchistic Architecture - a vision for a world where humanity and nature thrive together, even in the face of fire.